Meet Ann

Nice to meet you! My name’s plain & simple Ann, without even the fanciful 'e.' Glad you found your way here into some quiet. I know — it can get a bit loud out there. Maybe you’d like to wander a bit in the quiet — — Let's connect...
(Having trouble subscribing? Try here)

Notes to self as I parent today, 3 lines that have radically changed my parenting– what I call Poetic Parenting:

1. Heart Connect… only then Direct.

Instruction can only thrive in the soil of authentic relationship. Before offering instruction, consider how to touch the child gently. Think on how to frame all instructions in the context of a loving, affirming relationship.

If instruction bears tensions then check out the soil: perhaps the relationship needs fertilizing. If the relationship has been well cultivated and nourished, and instruction still yields resistance, perhaps offering more opportunities to practice receiving and implementing instruction may nourish the young shoot towards a joyful attitude.

Questions to self: Am I making eye contact? Am I touching? Have I nourished this relationship? Am I connecting before directing?

2. Love, what did I say?……
And will you obey?

Asking the child what was said allows the child to offer feedback to ensure they did indeed hear the instructions.

Then, does the child intend to do what was asked?

3. By what is inspected,
They’ll know what is expected

Our children need to hear it as much as the faithful servant needed to hear it: “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Questions to Self:Am I bringing closure to an instruction by joining with a child to inspect the task? Am I being faithful to finishing that which I began: I gave the instruction, did I inspect?

And thus a few lines for self to recite, that radically change everything about parenting:

1. Heart Connect … only then Direct

2. Love, what did I say?
And will you obey?

3. By what is inspected They’ll know what is expected.

{ And if you’re visiting from the Drew Marshall Show‘s Mother’s Day Special — it was a humble surprise to cross paths… a warm, shy welcome!

because you are co-laboring over the sculpting of souls and this a sacred vocation, a humbling privilege and I celebrate what you do! Never forget that what you do literally changes the world, beautiful sister. Abundant blessings on you… I join the angels in cheering you on!

Join me in #365GIFT — and become a brokenhearted hallelujah, a GIFT to the world, every day for a year, living broken and given, one intentional act of brokenhearted compassion at a time. Subscribe to posts and let’s begin together.